MSPB Appeals vs. EEO Complaints: Choosing the Right Path for Federal Employees
Nov 13, 2025 | By Federal Employment Law Firm | Read Time: 7 minutes Federal employees may have several potential avenues to challenge unlawful or unfair workplace actions. Two of the most common are civil service appeals filed with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and EEO complaints made through the Equal Employment Opportunity process. Understanding the scope, timelines, and […]
What Is the MSPB Discovery Process & Why Is It Important?
What Is the MSPB Discovery Process & Why Is It Important? Feb 19, 2025 | By Aaron D. Wersing | Read Time: 4 minutes Federal Employment Law For federal employees, preparing your appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) can feel complex and intimidating. Even though it’s your legal right to challenge unfair or unjust adverse employment actions, many […]
MSPB and Affirmative Defenses: What You Should Know
MSPB and Affirmative Defenses: What You Should Know Feb 19, 2025 | By Aaron D. Wersing | Read Time: 4 minutes MSPB Federal workers facing potential suspension, demotion, or removal often feel like the deck is stacked against them. Fortunately, federal law offers civil servants some key tools for challenging unfair agency actions, including the right to assert an affirmative […]
Who Can Appeal Adverse Actions to the MSPB?
Absence Without Leave (AWOL): Guidance for Federal Employees Nationwide Jan 9, 2025 | By Aaron D. Wersing | Read Time: 3 minutes MSPB When you’re a federal employee, learning you’re the subject of a proposed adverse action can be frustrating and confusing—especially if you think your agency is acting unjustly. However, unlike many private-sector workers, federal employees don’t necessarily have […]
Due Process Issues in MSPB Cases
Due Process Issues in MSPB Cases Jan 7, 2025 | By Aaron D. Wersing | Read Time: 3 minutes MSPB Due process is a cornerstone of fairness in federal employment disputes. Federal agencies must follow specific legal procedures before firing or negatively altering a federal worker’s employment status to protect qualified civil servants from arbitrary or politicized employment actions. When […]
Can Federal Employees Be Disciplined for Lack of Candor?
Can Federal Employees Be Disciplined for Lack of Candor? Dec 26, 2024 | By Aaron D. Wersing | Read Time: 4 minutes MSPB We all know that lying to your supervisor or another federal employee can lead to big trouble. But what happens when a federal employee does not lie but fails to share everything they know? Can you be […]
How Many Federal Employees Win Their Cases with the MSPB?
How Many Federal Employees Win Their Cases with the MSPB? Dec 18, 2024 | By Aaron D. Wersing | Read Time: 3 minutes MSPB Thousands of federal employees exercise their unique right as government workers to appeal disciplinary and adverse actions with the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) every year. The ability to challenge an agency’s potentially unfair or unjust […]
What Is a Reduction in Force for Federal Government Employees?
What Is a Reduction in Force for Federal Government Employees? Aug 6, 2024 | By Aaron D. Wersing | Read Time: 4 minutes MSPB Downsizing, layoffs, restructuring, rightsizing, labor force adjustments, reduction in force—no matter what you call it, most employees know it means bad news. Many people use these terms interchangeably to refer to involuntary job cuts across an […]
How to Prove Wrongful Demotion As A Federal Employee
If you have suffered an unfair demotion at work, then a wrongful demotion lawsuit will be your best bet for clearing your name and getting your career back on track. But before you begin your lawsuit, it’s vital to know how to prove your claims. As Sun Tzu once wrote, “Victorious warriors win first and […]
What If I Miss the Deadline for Filing an MSPB Appeal?
The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals process is vital for defending federal employees’ rights. But as with all other legal processes, the MSPB appeal timeline is strict. For various reasons, it’s not uncommon for workers to inadvertently miss the deadline to file an MSPB appeal. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic. […]